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FIRST BIRDS
Having decided that the Bengalese is the bird for were do you aquire your first birds from ?
There are many places that you can obtain your first birds, ranging from someone who keeps a few in their aviary to a top exhibitor.
Probably the best advice is to go to a local exhibitor if there is one in your area, the majority of who will be only to willing to talk about the birds, and assist the newcomer in obtaining birds, if not from themselves, from someone they know who will be able to help.
Making the initial purchase of your stock will be made a lot easier if you join the N.B.F.A. and obtain a member's list,from which you can find the names and addresses of fanciers in your area.
Try to avoid obtaining your stock from a pet shop or bird farm, if you are intending to take the breeding of exhibition birds seriously.
A lot of fanciers do sell surplus stock to these places, but I have found from experience although the odd useful bird can be obtained this way, these are usually the birds that are left after the fancier has selected the birds he will keep, and then sold to other fanciers the remaining birds of a good standard.
The majority of birds disposed of this way are usually cock birds, and Bengalese being hard to sex by just looking at them in a cage or flight, you are likely to bring home a large percentage of cocks.
By going to an established fancier, you will have almost no worry about your bird's sex, health or age.
Common sense is all that is needed, any obvious signs of ill health should be looked for, and the
conditions under which the birds are kept should be taken into account, if the birds are active and look fit they usually are.
Of course it is always a gamble when buying birds but by being sensible you can cut the odds down to practically zero that any problems will be encountered.
Make certain that in your haste to get your birds home you don't forget to enquire from the fancier all you can about the feeding and general management the birds are used to, creating the least problems for yourself when you do get them home and settled.
Make sure that you have all your cages ready to accept any birds you buy, that they are fully equipped to create the best possible environment to introduce your new birds into.
If you have little experience in exhibition type birds you must place your faith in whoever you purchase bird's from, at the same time attending any shows and reading as much as possible to gain this
experience.
As to what you can expect to pay for your birds, this is really a matter between yourself and the seller.
It is almost impossible to state what should constitute a fair price, as so many factors are involved, but if I want a bird I know if it's priced in my range and act accordingly.
Summing up, go to a breeder, exhibitor, it would be a rare occurrence for you not to come away
completely satisfied with your purchases.
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